HTPC for $500

[semlethe3rd]

I have currently been looking through threads from many websites reading about an HTPC for around $500, but i realized most the threads are from last year.. or later. If i could build a HTPC for this price or less it would be perfect. Oh yes and I already have a TV-tuner / remote so that will not be needed. I would also like to be able to eventually play Blue ray dvd's without stuttering, but please dont include a blue ray player in the $500 price limit, because i wont be needing it right away =). Some suggestions on parts would be appreciated, thank you. Parts needed CPU, motherboard, memory, psu, gpu, and a case =).

 

[stockjock]

Sorry, can't help you because I was just about to pose the exact same question...so I'd be interested in hearing what some of the gurus have to say.

 

[RESmonkey]

Get a good $100+ tuner, and make it internal. Many cheap newegg ones are bad quality.

HTPC, I'm assuming you'll never game, so any video card $100-199 will suffice (try and get a ati 4850 deal for like $150ish look at slickdeals or fatwallet).

Don't gimp on the processor. Whether the HTPC will be the home media server (live encoding, whatnot), you should either get a 2.0ghz C2D and OC it to a higher freq.
If not, then just buy a good C2D.

Sound card, I have no clue on those. I'm not an audio person.

 

[zerogear]

To build a HTPC for 500$ or so, the main thing is to have integrated chipsets.

ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI - $89.99 -- If you aren't planning to use Phenom, you can always use M2A, which are about 69.99
AMD Phenom 9600 Agena 2.3GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB - $169.99
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK - $84.99
SILVERSTONE Silver Aluminum front panel, 1.0mm SECC body LASCALA SST-LC13-S ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - Retail - $99.99
SeaSonic SS-350ET 350W ATX12V Ver.2.2 Power Supply with power cord - $53.99
or
SeaSonic SS-400ES 400W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91 Power Supply - $54.99
----------------
$498.95~499.95

A 780G chipset delivers a ok graphic in terms of gaming. If you are using it only as HTPC, then its is no problem. 780G = ATI HD 3200-ish graphics.

I think that 350W would suffice, but some people think that it is not enough, maybe a 400W

Since you didn't list that you needed a HD, I didn't list one.

You can always adjust memory/cpu to fit your need. Since I do a lot of encoding on my HTPC, I like having the Quad, but if you don't do stuff like those, Dual cores are always cheaper.

Same for case, adjust it to fit your tastes, but be forewarned, HTPC cases tend to be relatively expensive. So if you don't really care all that much, you can go for a cheap ATX case which usually can be had for 60~80.

 

[boomhower]

As much as Intel is dominating right now for a HTPC I would go with zero and get a 780 based AMD system When G45 gets here that may change but right now I think the 780 is a better option. The AMD CPU's are plenty fast for a HTPC.

 

[zerogear]

Another plus is that 780G can usually run about 60W-80W idle, which is a huge bill saver 🙂

 

[RESmonkey]

No graphics card? Or is the integrated gfx good nuff on that AMD motherboard?

 

[zerogear]

The graphic card on the mobo is good enough for output at 1080p/blu-ray, but you certainly won't be playing Crysis at, 1920x1080.

It really boils down to what the OP wants to do. If he wants to play games extensively on his HTPC as well as record tv shows/encoding, then he might do better building a full blown PC and add the TV Tuner. But if not, AMD chipset might offer a better solution.

 

[MrCodeDude]

I just built this using Fry's deals from the past two weeks:

E8400 & ECS G31T-M Combo ($160) (Sell the board for $30)
2GB (2x1GB) OCZ Platinum Revision DDR2 800 Memory Kit ($20 AR) (Alternatively, you could do 2x2GB for $70)
EVGA GeForce 8800GS 384MB PCI Express Video Card ($60 AR)
Shuttle SD30G2 Plus ($120 AR)
640GB WD Caviar HDD ($85)

That's a pretty powerful rig for a HTPC (and only for $415), exclude the HDD, possibly use the integrated graphics (I wouldn't) and you're sitting pretty for your selection of TV tuner.

 

[stockjock]

What dual tuner card would ya'll recommend?

 

[zerogear]

I would get ATSC/NTSC/QAM Tuner. Avermedia AverTV Combo PCI-E 1x works nicely (M780 Model). WinTV Tuners are pretty nice also.